Merkel cell cancer history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vamsikrishna Gunnam M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

Patients with merkel cell carcinoma usually present with a rapid growing, painless, small mass that is typically located on sun exposed area of the body.

History and Symptoms

The majority of patients with merkel cell carcinoma are asymptomatic almost 88 percent.

History

Patients with merkel cell carcinoma may have a positive history of:^[1]

Severe sun exposure
Organ transplantation
Viral infection like
- MCPvY
- HIV
Taking immunosuppressive medications

Common Symptoms

Common symptoms of merkel cell carcinoma include^[2]^[3]^[4]

Rapid growing, painless and small mass that typically located on a sun exposed area of the body.
The most common location of merkel cell carcinoma is the periorbital region on the face.
The lesions in merkel cell carcinoma appear as plaques or violaceous solitary and dome-shaped nodules.
The nodules in merkel cell carcinoma appear as red or deep purple in colour.
The most important features in merkel cell carcinoma can be summarized in an acronym: AEIOU
- A–Asymptomatic
- E-Expanding rapidly
- I-Immune suppression
- O-Older than 50 years
- U-Ultraviolet-exposure

References

↑ Suárez AL, Louis P, Kitts J, Busam K, Myskowski PL, Wong RJ, Chen CS, Spencer P, Lacouture M, Pulitzer MP (December 2015). “Clinical and dermoscopic features of combined cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)/neuroendocrine [Merkel cell] carcinoma (MCC)”. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 73 (6): 968–75. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.08.041. PMC 5026117. PMID 26433246.
↑ Heath M, Jaimes N, Lemos B, Mostaghimi A, Wang LC, Peñas PF, Nghiem P (March 2008). “Clinical characteristics of Merkel cell carcinoma at diagnosis in 195 patients: the AEIOU features”. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 58 (3): 375–81. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2007.11.020. PMC 2335370. PMID 18280333.
↑ Jalilian C, Chamberlain AJ, Haskett M, Rosendahl C, Goh M, Beck H, Keir J, Varghese P, Mar A, Hosking S, Hussain I, Rich M, McLean C, Kelly JW (August 2013). “Clinical and dermoscopic characteristics of Merkel cell carcinoma”. Br. J. Dermatol. 169 (2): 294–7. doi:10.1111/bjd.12376. PMID 23574613.
↑ Zhan FQ, Packianathan VS, Zeitouni NC (March 2009). “Merkel cell carcinoma: a review of current advances”. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 7 (3): 333–9. PMID 19401065.

[pmid26433246-1] Suárez AL, Louis P, Kitts J, Busam K, Myskowski PL, Wong RJ, Chen CS, Spencer P, Lacouture M, Pulitzer MP (December 2015). “Clinical and dermoscopic features of combined cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)/neuroendocrine [Merkel cell] carcinoma (MCC)”. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 73 (6): 968–75. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.08.041. PMC 5026117. PMID 26433246.

[pmid18280333-2] Heath M, Jaimes N, Lemos B, Mostaghimi A, Wang LC, Peñas PF, Nghiem P (March 2008). “Clinical characteristics of Merkel cell carcinoma at diagnosis in 195 patients: the AEIOU features”. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 58 (3): 375–81. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2007.11.020. PMC 2335370. PMID 18280333.

[pmid23574613-3] Jalilian C, Chamberlain AJ, Haskett M, Rosendahl C, Goh M, Beck H, Keir J, Varghese P, Mar A, Hosking S, Hussain I, Rich M, McLean C, Kelly JW (August 2013). “Clinical and dermoscopic characteristics of Merkel cell carcinoma”. Br. J. Dermatol. 169 (2): 294–7. doi:10.1111/bjd.12376. PMID 23574613.

[pmid19401065-4] Zhan FQ, Packianathan VS, Zeitouni NC (March 2009). “Merkel cell carcinoma: a review of current advances”. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 7 (3): 333–9. PMID 19401065.

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